It’s shocking how perfect Ian Somerhalder would be for the role of Christian Grey in the forthcoming movie adaptation of EL James‘ erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey. I mean, before the Vampire Diaries star appeared on Ryan Seacrest‘s radio show this morning, we hadn’t even considered him as a frontrunner. But the moment Ryan brought it up, the pieces clicked into place.

First off, Ian seemed to have anticipated the question. Although he laughed when Ryan first brought up the book, when asked if he’d consider playing the sexy, dominant businessman, he immediately responded,

“Potentially. I absolutely would be up for that. I have the book and I just started reading it. That would be a pretty incredible thing, and hopefully that could pan out, I think… Yes, beyond the shadow of a doubt I think that would be a phenomenal opportunity!”

The plot traces the relationship between recent college graduate Anastasia Steele and manipulative billionaire Christian Grey. Steele is required by Grey to sign a contract allowing him complete control over her life. As she gets to know him she learns that his sexual tastes involve bondage, domination and sadism, and that childhood abuse left him a deeply damaged individual. In order to be his partner she agrees to experiment with BDSM, but struggles to reconcile who she is (a virgin who has never previously had a boyfriend) with who Christian wants her to be: his submissive to do with as he pleases in his “Red Room of Pain.”

Simply put, Ian is a master at playing wickedly sexy characters. Him signing on to play Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries was one of those “aha!” moments of casting. His default expression is basically an undressing-you-with-his-eyes smirk. His age gives him a commanding on-screen presence, and yet he still looks younger than 34. So, yes. I wholeheartedly support this, and I haven’t even read Fifty Shades yet.

The last thing that Ryan asked Ian was who he would pick to play his Anastasia Steele, in the alternate universe where he was the star and had a say in casting. Ian had the wherewithal to keep his mouth shut, but you know that fans are already considering his real-life girlfriend Nina Dobrev for the role and making photo manipulations of the two in compromising positions as I type.

It disgusts me how popular this 50 stuff has become. It’s even worse that celebs are reading and talking about this drivel. I’ve read it, and I anxiously await the day when Stephenie Meyer sues the hell out of E.L. James for massive plagiarism.

Katie

50 Shades is NOTHING like Twilight! The story is so much better than sparkly vegetarian vampires!

courtney

@Katie are you fucking kidding me? It’s EXACTLY like Twilight. Have you even read Twilight? E.L. James doesn’t have an original thought in her head- all she has are the Twilight books and a thesaurus. If you think that 50 shades is an original piece of work, then you are dangerously delusional.

mac

nathin butler, an australian actor, is way more suitable for the role of christian grey! seriously!

Annie

I pictured Nathin Butler as Christian Grey while reading the books. He would be perfect!!!

Traci

He’s the purr-fect Christian. He has the whole package!!!

Anis

Obviously it’s like Twilight, it’s a fanfic of it. But considering that it’s AU, it’s more different.

Anis

I mean a little more different. At least she could have changed the story a little more, so Itsn’t so alike.

Steph

Fifty shades IS absolutely and completely different. And yes Ian as Christian please. He’s so perfect for the part.

Anis

Please. I read the book, and there aren’t many diffrences. Well, I admit I skipped a little because I was bored to death.